Caneta Brown1, Norma McFarlane-Anderson1, Ruby Alexander-Lindo1, Karen Bishop2, Tara Dasgupta3, Donovan McGrowder2
1Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona, West Indies.
2Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona, West Indies.
3Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Mona, West Indies.
DOI: 10.4103/0976-9668.116998
ABSTRACT
Background: Pre-eclampsia (PE) complicates approximately 5-7% of all pregnancies. This study investigates the effects of S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) and S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) on the classical features of PE. Materials and Methods: On day 14 of gestation, female Sprague-Dawley rats were separated into five groups and treated intravenously for 7 days as follows: (i) 0.3 mL 0.9% saline (control, n = 11); (ii) 50 mg/kg Body Weight (BW) N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) in 0.3 mL saline ( n = 10); (iii) 50 mg/kg BW L-NAME and 8 mg/kg BW GSNO in 0.15 mL saline ( n = 6); (iv) 50 mg/kg BW L-NAME in 0.15 mL saline and 8 mg/kg BW SNAP in 0.15 mL DMSO ( n = 9); and (v) 0.15 mL DMSO and 0.15 mL saline (SNAP control, n = 7). Blood pressures were measured on day 14 through day 20, a 4-h urine sample was taken on day 20, and animals were sacrificed on day 21. Pups were counted and weighed individually. Results: SNAP and GSNO significantly decreased systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures in PE-induced rats from day 14 through day 20 ( P < 0.05). Pup weights in SNAP and GSNO groups were higher than in L-NAME group but lower than in controls ( P ≤ 0.001). SNAP and GSNO partially reversed growth retardation. Conclusion: Elevated blood pressure, proteinuria, and intrauterine growth restriction associated with PE were induced in Sprague-Dawley rats using L-NAME. These were partially reversed with the use of GSNO and SNAP. The mechanism of action of these S-nitrosothiols (RSNOs) should be further explored.
Keywords: Blood pressure, N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, pre-eclampsia, S-nitrosoglutathione, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine.
